Folic acid is essential for preventing anemia and neural tube defects during pregnancy. Children aged 1-13 should take 150-300 micrograms per day, adults 400 micrograms, and pregnant or breastfeeding women 500-600 micrograms. Some health conditions may require higher doses, but this should be done under medical supervision. Natural folate is found in green leafy vegetables, beans, fruits, and juices. High doses of folic acid may be linked to health problems, so it’s important to follow recommended doses.
You can determine the appropriate dose of folic acid taking into account your age and health circumstances. It is recommended that children 1-13 years of age take 150-300 micrograms of folic acid per day, and adults should take 400 micrograms per day. Adult women who are breastfeeding or pregnant should take more folic acid: 500-600 micrograms per day. Some people with specific health problems need to take even more folic acid every day, but this should only be done under the direction of a healthcare professional.
Folic acid, the synthetic form of the natural B vitamin folate, is an essential vitamin. It prevents anemia and helps the development of new cells, so it is especially important to prevent neural tube defects during pregnancy. Some foods with natural folate include green leafy vegetables, beans, fruits, and juices. Many people do not get an adequate amount of folic acid, so folic acid is added to cereals, flour, and other grain products to prevent deficiency. It can also be taken as a single supplement or as part of a multivitamin.
When taking folic acid in supplement form, look for a supplement that contains the recommended dose of folic acid for your age and condition. Anyone over the age of 13 should take 400 micrograms of folic acid per day, pregnant women should take 600 micrograms, and lactating women should take 500 micrograms. Children 1 to 3 years old should take 150 micrograms of folic acid; children 4 to 8 years need 200 micrograms; and those ages 9 to 13 need 300 micrograms.
In certain cases, a doctor may encourage a person to take even more folic acid to treat or prevent certain medical conditions. For example, a person with a diagnosed folic acid deficiency may be asked to take up to 1,000 micrograms of folic acid per day. A woman with a history of pregnancy complications related to neural tube defects may be prescribed a folic acid dose of 4 milligrams of folic acid per day for the first few months of subsequent pregnancies.
While natural folate is completely safe, research has linked high doses of folic acid to other health problems, including cancer. The widespread consumption of folic acid-fortified foods today means that very few men and boys experience folic acid deficiency. Some health professionals recommend that men and boys avoid supplements that contain folic acid to avoid toxicity. The tolerable upper intake dose of folic acid for children 1 to 3 years of age is 300 micrograms per day; it is 400 micrograms per day for children 4 to 8 years of age, 600 micrograms for children 9 to 13 years of age, 800 micrograms for adolescents 14 to 18 years of age, and 1,000 micrograms per day for adults.
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